Instagram will now show users posts from strangers at the end of their feeds - and people are not happy about it.
The tech giant has introduced a new ‘suggested posts’ feature, meaning posts from unfamiliar names will appear when you’ve finished viewing recent posts from users you follow.
While the ‘strangers’ will be related to the content you normally see, they’ll be accounts you don’t follow, and will also include ads.
Instagram hopes the new feature will help users to seek out new content on the platform.
Speaking to TechCrunch, Robby Stein, Instagram director of product, explained: “Our goal is to make it clear when you’re all caught up so you can decide how you want to best use your time.
“We see people continuing to seek out more posts they’re interested in after catching up with their feeds, so we wanted to learn from that and make it easier to go a little deeper for those who choose to do so.”
However, the initial reaction on Instagram suggests that users are less than impressed with the new feature.
One user tweeted: “Dear Instagram, how do I turn this awful suggested posts nonsense off, I don’t want it, I’m more than capable of searching for things if I want to.”
Another added: “first instagram gives me an ad for something I don’t care about and then it gives me “suggested posts” from people I don’t care about???? who tf is on the ig beta team and approved this s***?”
And one joked: “Everyone: Please give us back a chronological time line.
“Instagram: Here, have some suggested posts of people you don’t follow.”
The new feature will be rolled out worldwide this week.
